Her Name Is Louise

She came into his life in 1994, almost a decade old at the time. She was honest and loyal, always willing to go the extra mile. He knew her every move, her every part, both inside and out.

She had his heart from the beginning.

Her name was Louise.

For thirteen years, Louise was Jason’s trusty sidekick. They had adventures on weekends and did real work during the week. Louise went to the beach and to the mountains, to weddings and funerals, north and south and east and west.

Seven years ago, Louise went to live with another family. They needed someone trustworthy to help them with adventures and real work. They promised to take care of her and love her. And also, to let us know if she ever needed to come back home.

Three weeks ago, I got a message that Louise was homesick. She wanted to come home and without Jason knowing it, I made that happen.

After he had spent a week in Europe, on Father’s Day Eve, with a tap on the shoulder and the push of a button to open the garage door, she was revealed.

Louise was home.

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And they made out.

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And drove off into the sunset.

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Her name is Louise, and she was his first love.

And now she’s home.

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Fathers

Obviously, today is Father’s Day, so the prompt will be about just that. If you don’t want to write about a father in your life, feel free to just dump your brain on your site. That is, after all, going back to the core of #SOCSunday.

Today’s (totally optional) prompt: Fathers

stream of consciousness sunday

My dad is kinda cool. He’s done awesome things all my life, like flying a plane, making amazing jewelry, playing rock music on weekends… and being a big ole goofball!

He’s also had cancer twice. Strangely, both types of cancer have been treated without any chemo or radiation. Thyroid cancer and prostate cancer, both “gotten” with surgery.

Yesterday, in honor of my Dad, Henry and I ran in the ZERO Prostate Cancer 5k/1 mile. It was so much fun… running with others who were there because they, too, had been touched by prostate cancer.

So Daddy, on this Father’s Day, I want to thank you for being you. For always doing and helping and fighting and listening. For working hard so L and I could do some of the most amazing things ever. For putting up with Mama (wink wink) and for giving me an idea of what a husband should be like.

Love you! xoxo

Zero5k collage note

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This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

  • Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
  • Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
  • Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
  • Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post (in the sidebar). .
  • Link up your post below.
  • Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Today. (Alternate Title: Pity Party, party of 1)

Today didn’t really go as planned.

I actually woke up this morning not remembering what the date was. What it meant. What it stood for.

I was in a good mood except for the fact that last night we had a line of storms come through, and what seems like the edge of a tornado skirted our neighborhood. The power went out around 7:30 while we were scurrying to the basement. The winds were high and the rain was heavy. The sounds were eerie and the dark was even stranger.

But after it passed, the sky was the most amazing shade of yellow.

And then it got dark.

Luckily it wasn’t too hot overnight. It was comfortable except when Henry would cuddle up next to me all hot and sweaty and clammy and wiggly.

I had big plans today. I took the day off of work — a mental health day to (not) mark the day Charlie died 10 years ago. I had plans to lunch with my friend Nic and clean so the house was presentable when Jason comes home tomorrow. I was going to watch non-cartoon, non-Seinfeld television.

But no. Mother Nature screwed that up for me.

After a breakfast at Waffle House, running on a limited menu/gas power (WH Index Yellow), we took the long (only) way home and saw some serious damage. Trees in houses. Trees across power lines. Limbs everywhere.

We were lucky.

The longer the day went on, though, the grumpier and darker it started to feel. No power at noon. Still none at 3. Surely it would be back by 5. But no.

I know Georgia Power is working as hard as they can. There is a LOT of damage and a LOT of people in the area. But I gave up.

I quit.

I called the PetSmart and a hotel. We packed our stuff and left.

I couldn’t take one more minute in the dark house or outside in the hot heat. I couldn’t take another minute of whining from Henry. I couldn’t stand the noise in my head that sounded like beeps and monitors and shuffling of doctors and nurses. I had to get away.

So now, sitting in a nice hotel with a bed for me and one for Henry, I can breathe deep and exhale for hours.

Today didn’t go how I had planned. Not today, and not ten years ago today.

I Believe…

Last Sunday morning, I woke up with an itch. An itch that’s been building for over a year now.

When my friend Nic put on Facebook that she was in town, I knew it was the day. I knew SHE would go with me.

Back in the fall, I got Robin Plemmons, one of my favorite people and most fabulous artists, to write a simple word on an index card. I knew that when I finally did it, I wanted HER touch to it.

One practice on my arm…

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art by robin plemmons, in sharpie

And one pass on the index card, and I had my art.

I knew this was the word. For a while, this word had popped up in all kinds of places exactly when I needed to see it. It continuously reminds me of so much.

It reminds me that I believe in ME.

I believe with all my heart that good comes from bad.

I believe that love always wins.

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art by me, in henna

I believe in God, and believe that others don’t have to believe in my God. I will still love them because remember, I believe that love always wins.

I believe that sometimes life is hard, but trudging through the mud and muck will make you a stronger person in the end.

I believe in Auburn, and I love it.

I believe in community and giving back with time and money, even if both are limited.

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from the book ‘believe’

I believe I am blessed. I’m blessed with a beautiful family, a personal guardian angel, and amazing friends.

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. I also believe that some of the best song lyrics are part of cheesy songs.

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my friend’s son, who believed he could run for a medal at disney

I believe that strangers can have profound impact on you when you least expect it.

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random stranger with believe sign on main street at disney

I believe that the tides will always rise and fall, the skies and seas will have to be angry before they can be calm, and mother nature knows what she’s doing.

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sand writing by me, 2013

I believe that we are all led to places and situations that make us stronger, even if it feels like it may kill us.

I believe our stories matter.

I believe we all have the right to our own opinions, that yours isn’t any better than mine and I won’t love you any less for yours.

my mother's day gift

my mother’s day gift

Last Sunday, my sweet friend rode to Psycho Tattoo with me and held my hand (and took pictures) as I got my favorite word permanently placed on my wrist. It’s there for all to see, but mostly, it’s where I can hold it close to my heart and be reminded when I need to be.

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chet at psycho tattoo in marietta, ga

believe12

believe13

art by robin plemmons, permanent ink by chet

This is my permanent, daily reminder that if we believe in something, anything, we can learn to believe in ourselves and others.
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What A Difference A Year Makes

A year ago, I woke up and (without knowing it was National Running Day) spent $19.95 to get the Couch to 5k program. I’m not sure why, but I was at home alone, feeling pretty crappy about myself, looking at my swelling feet, wondering what to do with myself.

My one goal was to get off the couch and be able to go for a jog in Central Park for BlogHer a few short weeks later.

That’s it. I wanted to lose a little weight, get a little exercise, and maybe get a race t-shirt sometime in the nearish future.

I put my feet to the pavement and invested in new shoes.

hardest part

Never being one to NOT cave to peer pressure, a week later, I signed up for a half marathon. Jason thought I was insane. I’m sure all of my friends did, too. I mean, I couldn’t run 30 SECONDS, let alone 3+ hours.

But I believed I could.

And that’s half the battle.

I logged mile after mile after extremely painful mile. Running in the heat of the summer with arthritis isn’t the best way to start, but I figured if I could train in July, I could do anything.

I ran with Kelly in Central Park. Ok, it was more like walking and talking really fast, but we did run, too!

It got easier. I started not hating every single step. I only hate the steps that come before the last 5. The swelling stopped being so extreme and my arthritic joints actually felt BETTER.**

Now I look forward to running. It’s hard to squeeze it in now that I’m working full time, but somehow I do it. Not as much as I’d like, but I go when I can.

As I sit here today, thinking back, I realize how amazing it is.

A year has made a HUGE difference in my life.

I’ve run 5 5k’s, 2 10k’s, 1 15k, and a half marathon.

medal

I’ve signed up for the Peachtree Road Race (10k) and the Wine & Dine Half Marathon.

I’ve lost 4 pants sizes, but only a few pounds.

photo

I believed I could do something, and I did it. And I’m still doing it.

And you know what? You can, too.

** Obviously, please talk to your doctor before starting to run with arthritis. 

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